# 118-s-2513: Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2024

118-s-2513, Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2024, is a 118th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] (D-MT); status became_law; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-01-05).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-2513
- As of: 2026-01-05
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 118-s-2513
- Congress: 118
- Title: Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2024
- Status: became_law
- Introduced: 2023-07-26
- Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] (D-MT)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-01-05

## Summary

**Veterans' benefits processing and access** get stricter oversight and new supports to make disability exams, representation, and appeals more reliable and better coordinated. It tightens contractor exam rules, expands legal pipelines, and boosts appeals capacity. - Veterans and claimants: Veterans receive clearer outreach and scheduling communications about contracted medical exams, including notices about identity verification. VA must report within one year on reimbursing veteran travel to VA facilities or contracted providers. - Contracted medical providers: The law narrows which disability benefit questionnaire forms must be publicly posted by allowing VA to exclude forms that non-VA examiners cannot complete to a clinical standard, and it requires exam-related communications be shared promptly with designated representatives. - VA workforce and appeals system: Establishes a Board of Veterans' Appeals internship for early law students and a benefits program with student loan repayment and licensure reimbursement tied to a three-year service agreement. It also temporarily adds three judges to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and requires reports on expanding telehearing access.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] (R-KS), 2023-07-26T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Loan help and bar costs for VA attorneys: benefit, high. VA creates a program within one year that repays student loans and covers bar prep, exam fees, and annual dues for eligible Honors attorneys and Board law clerks. You must agree to stay at VA for at least three years, or repay if you leave early or for misconduct. VA assigns a mentor within 90 days…
- Clearer exam notices and forms for veterans: benefit, low. VA publishes all disability exam forms online and lists any excluded forms with reasons. For contractor exams, scheduling messages must also go to your power of attorney or recognized representative, for contracts signed after enactment. Within 120 days of enactment, VA runs outreach with contracto…
- More judges for veterans claims court: benefit, low. The law adds three judges to the Veterans Claims Court, effective on enactment. The extra judges are authorized through January 1, 2028. This increases capacity to hear veterans’ appeals.

## Related bills

- 118-s-141: Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act
- 118-s-870: An act to authorize appropriations for the United States Fire Administration and firefighter assistance grant programs, to advance the benefits of nuclear ener…
- 118-s-2795: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend and modify certain authorities and requirements relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for…
- 118-s-777: Veterans' COLA Act of 2023
- 118-s-30: Fiscal Year 2023 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act
- 118-s-4243: Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act

## Sources
- [118-s-2513 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2513)

## Related
- [118-s-141: Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvemen…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-141)
- [118-s-870: An act to authorize appropriations for the United States Fire Administration an…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-870)
- [118-s-2795: A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend and modify certain auth…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-2795)
- [118-s-777: Veterans' COLA Act of 2023](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-777)
- [118-s-30: Fiscal Year 2023 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-30)
- [118-s-4243: Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-4243)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/118-s-2513 (as of 2026-01-05).